Services

Leadership Development

Sound leadership is essential in human services, particularly with the high levels of regulation and reporting required for accreditation. Our approach is to work with your leadership team in a mentoring or interim leadership capacity through 1:1 consultation or group supervision. We aim to build and develop the leadership skills that your organisation needs. Key services may cover:

Prioritising communication with consultative and collaborative management
Adjustment and targeting of leadership style to suit staff teams and individuals
Getting the best from staff and teams through engagement with organisation objectives
Career and opportunity development for staff
Team and individual best practice development
Introduction and management of key performance indicators and other metrics
Business process and systems design and implementation and review of compliance reporting
Disciplinary and performance improvement ‘difficult conversations’ in conjunction with human resources.

Risk Assessment

The effective assessment and management of the risk that your organisation faces can differentiate your business and improve service standards. Key services may cover:

Analysis, management and mitigation of risk through strategy and frameworks in child protection, out-of-home-care, disability services, family preservation and restoration.
Building management, team and individual staff understanding of their responsibility in risk management.
Training and supervision of staff in understanding risk factors, risk assessment, and development of risk inquiry programs.
Identifying where risk assessment is required in service delivery for vulnerable clients to ensure safety, security and accreditation for clients and carers.
Development of risk and incident reporting frameworks and associated documentation.
Development of models and engagement tools for reporting of risk management metrics to funding agencies.

Best Practice & Quality Improvement

A more complete approach to best practice and quality will ensure the highest standards of client care and safety. That requires a continuous improvement business model. We can help with:

Development and implementation of continuous improvement models to ensure safety and opportunity for clients and deliver organisational capability and growth.
Support and development for staff in strength-based care through group supervision, risk and reference panels and reflective practice training.
Building client, carer and front-line staff feedback and communication processes.
Establishment and review of quality standards, key performance indicators and audit processes as integral to continuous improvement.

Accreditation

Accreditation to regulator and funding agency standards is obviously essential in the human services sector, but it is also one of the main areas of concern for both regulators and NGOs. We have worked with large and small organisations at risk of losing, or striving to achieve, accreditation with regulators such as the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG). The work can be complex and may include:

Comprehensive existing service review and reporting to leadership to point out risks, strengths and opportunities.
Relationship building with key stakeholders such as FACS, NSW Ombudsman and OCG.
Education and support to leadership and staff on key regulator and agency reform.
Planning, family search and engagement combined with cultural safety concepts.

Operational Support

Our operational support can range from an interim or project leadership appointment accountable for the delivery of results in key areas to modular support in any of:

Professional support, mentoring and supervision of management staff.
Training and development for staff and management in required contract deliverables.
Workplace assessment and development of work culture and plans to enhance performance.
Review and implementation of change in policy and processes to meet contract and practice standards.
Gap analysis and development of business plans for process improvement and alignment with program level agreements.

Investigations

We are experienced in reportable conduct investigations under the Children's Guardian Act 2019. Our services for NGOs and agencies can cover:

Interview of children and young people for the purposes of reportable conduct investigation.
Interview of carers and other employees related to allegations of reportable conduct.
Business systems review and analysis for organisations to report on contributing risk factors.
Operational and business support for de-authorising carers when necessary.
Identification of poor practice, team culture and systems gaps with business improvement recommendations.
Feedback and reporting to the Ombudsman and to the leadership team.

Restorations

We can provide assessment for the viability of family restoration with risk assessment, review and support for children and their families. This may include:

Assessment of family strengths and risks.
Structure and review of models for continuous safety and support for children and families.
Agreements and contracts with families, including safety planning
Investigation and evaluation of support available within the transition and in community.
Development of family support plans in consultation with families, children, young people and other stakeholders.

Family Preservation

We work with government, NGO and statutory agencies on family preservation programs to enable children to stay within their home when there are identified safety issues and vulnerabilities if the child is at risk of entering the care system.

Services offered cover:

Family preservation risk assessment and review.
Case planning with FACS and other stakeholders.
Organisational policy models and family agreement development in line with FACS policy.
Relationship development with support services with clear, consistent plans and support models.

Staff Training , Development & Reviews

To obtain lasting benefit from our wide range of human services consulting and business improvement services, your staff need to be engaged, trained and developed in the required processes and just as importantly, the reasons behind those processes. Our training and development can cover:

Training and development at all levels, from senior leadership to front-line staff.
Group, team and individual supervision and training models.
Professional development and performance improvement.
Succession planning and support for emerging leaders.
Consultation, surveys and feedback programs on key staff development issues.